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Search For Eric Frein Shifts

BARRETT TOWNSHIP — Monday was another day in the woods as state police searched for suspected killer Eric Frein. He has eluded authorities for more than t...

BARRETT TOWNSHIP -- Monday was another day in the woods as state police searched for suspected killer Eric Frein. He has eluded authorities for more than two weeks.

Today, the search shifted back toward the Canadensis area.

We're now into the third week of the ongoing search for Frein.

Last week, troopers said they were zeroing in on a five-square-mile area near the intersections of Route 447 and Snow Hill Road near Canadensis.

On Monday, that focus appears to have shifted a bit northwest as search crews gathered at the old Barrett Elementary school off Route 390.

Late Monday morning, troopers donning protective vests moved in on a vacant Pocono resort at the border of Canadensis and Mountainhome.

Some hid watching closely, while other SWAT crews, K9s, and search crews checked several old cabins hidden behind the brush.

Wilfredo Martis of Mountainhome lives just a few miles away and says this search felt different.

"A lot of helicopter activity, you see a lot of troopers out on the road and they look like they're really determined to catch this person," Martis said.

Crews in camouflage patrolled near Snow Hill Road and Route 447 on foot, combing areas near where local and national media have been set up for weeks.

The vast majority of force could be seen at Barrett Elementary off Route 390.

Annette Parker of Mountainhome watched it all from her back porch, with helicopters passing right over her roof.

"It feels a little bit like a war zone although I've never been in one, but when you hear the helicopters and you see people with ammunition," Parker said.

Throughout the afternoon, more search teams gathered at the closed elementary school.

U.S. customs and border patrol aided the search from the air.

Crews spread out and searched the woods on foot with at least two K9s by their side.

Residents say they appreciate knowing the search efforts haven't let up.

"They're doing their job. It's not like I like what's going on, but they are doing a job for us."

Other troopers lined Route 447 watching the back side of the mountain.

Robin Hill of New York stopped to watch on her way home from a Pocono vacation.

"You can feel the fear and you can hear people whispering rather than talking about it. So yeah, it definitely has a very heavy feeling," Hill said.

State police again had no updates on the search.

Throughout these three weeks, those involved in this intensive manhunt have done so relatively unharmed, but Newswatch 16 learned that a state trooper car was involved in a crash on Route 447 near the search area.

A photo was sent to us by a viewer.

STATE TROOPERS CRASH 447 PIC 1 9-28

At this time, no information is being released. We do not know if anyone was injured or if any other vehicles were involved.

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